Florida criminal charge
Crash involving death or personal injuries in Florida
Crash involving death or personal injuries is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 316.027. Its classification is not fixed: Florida assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Fla. Stat. § 316.027.
How is crash involving death or personal injuries classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaving scene of crash — injury other than serious bodily injury | Felony of the Third Degree | A driver willfully fails to stop and comply with requirements after a crash resulting in injury to a person other than serious bodily injury. | Fla. Stat. § 316.027(2)(a) |
| Leaving scene of crash — serious bodily injury | Felony of the Second Degree | A driver willfully fails to stop and comply with requirements after a crash resulting in serious bodily injury to a person. | Fla. Stat. § 316.027(2)(b) |
| Leaving scene of crash — death | Felony of the First Degree | A driver willfully fails to stop and comply with requirements after a crash resulting in the death of a person, with a mandatory minimum 4-year prison term. | Fla. Stat. § 316.027(2)(c) |
Common questions about crash involving death or personal injuries in Florida
Is crash involving death or personal injuries a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: crash involving death or personal injuries ranges from a Felony of the Third Degree to a Felony of the First Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 316.027.
Leaving scene of crash — injury other than serious bodily injury: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 316.027(2)(a)) · Leaving scene of crash — serious bodily injury: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 316.027(2)(b)) · Leaving scene of crash — death: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 316.027(2)(c))
Which Florida statute covers crash involving death or personal injuries?
Crash involving death or personal injuries is governed by Fla. Stat. § 316.027 (Crash involving death or personal injuries).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.